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Designing Videos for E-learning

Is your online course attempting to explain a difficult concept, action, or behavior? Are you struggling to put this concept in words? If so, a video tutorial may be your best bet. Videos are perfect for demonstrating a physical task or for showing training in action, such as a sales or customer interaction technique. Here are some best practices to keep in mind when creating online training videos.

Plan ahead

Time is precious. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be to shoot the video efficiently. As with the rest of your course, storyboarding and outlining your ideas ahead of time will benefit you when you get to the actual shoot. Create these plans within the context of your overall course. Filming each video may be more time consuming than initially thought. Don’t spend time during the shoot figuring out what exactly will go into the video, when that can be planned ahead of time.

Keep it short

When you’re making training videos, consider your viewer first. Videos should be fresh and engaging, yet concise and to the point. Bite-sized videos around five minutes each is usually a good target length, for both instructors and learners.

Keep it simple

Don’t bother with fancy special effects in your online training videos. Users aren’t expecting a Hollywood-quality video; instead, stick to the basics and focus on the best way to explain your material. A simple picture or illustration can work wonders in getting your message across. Speak clearly, avoid unnecessary jargon, and keep your audience in mind at all times.

Closed captioning

It’s easy to get distracted when trying to concentrate on a training video. Use closed captioning in each video so your viewers will stay focused and follow along with the words as they watch. If possible, provide a transcript of the video, so users can refer back to a specific point in the video, and fully grasp an important concept.

Make it personal

Try to establish a personal connection with your viewers. Put the instructor or expert in front of the camera rather than only showing pictures or text-heavy screenshots.

Engage viewers

Create practical, hands-on lessons for your learners. Start with an attention getter and keep the lessons relevant to the training process. At the end, do a brief recap, and outline the information one more time for comprehension purposes.

Today’s modern learning management systems allow for seamless video integration. If you have the resources to produce your own videos, it will be beneficial in the long run, as it will help make your training a more comprehensive and engaging experience.

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